6 tips on how to give students a successful (virtual) guest lesson
Times are such that once we can be happy for the students who can get out of the classroom to learn the wisdom of the classroom, but the very next moment we will again consider how it would be most effective for them to learn from a distance.
Let's not forget that even from a distance, as experts in our field, we can motivate students with vital knowledge, skills and experience and help them maintain motivation to learn. Bring Tagasi Kooli with the team, you get six tips on how to give a virtual or face-to-face guest lesson.
The first trick is simple
Go tagasikooli.ee – I am an expert and choose a suitable guest lesson and click "book". After entering your details, you will receive an email with the teacher's contacts to agree on the details. All that's left is an hour of preparation time, a little nerve-wracking, and your performance begins! 🙂
Tip two: what is the structure of the lesson?
How to ensure that students' attention is maintained? A good plan is the basis for success. Think through the structure of the lesson and introduce it right at the beginning of the lesson. Among other things, answer the question when students can ask questions.
Model scheme
- Setup (10 min) – introduce yourself and find out what students know about your topic, give an overview of why the topic is important and why you are giving lessons on the topic.
- Main message and engagement (25 min) – here tell your story and convey the main messages, show the imagery and engage the students, for example, ask them questions.
- Summary (10min) – how do you know what students remembered? For example, invite a student to convey a key message in their own words or to say the most important thing that came out of class. What other questions could students be asked in this block? Can students implement something as a result of your lesson, e.g. start keeping a budget and saving?
Tip three: a little homework before class?
Is there any way students can prepare for class? Reading an article, listening to a podcast, solving a test, writing down your spending in one week, or writing down one question each on a topic? It could be a simple task that takes the hour to a wave even before it happens.
Tip Four: Tell One Personal Success/Fail Story
Personal stories are engaging and make distracted students prick their ears. In the case of money wisdom class, stories would start with questions like this: What are your experiences with money? When did you earn your first salary? What did you buy for it? What would you do differently with money in your behavior? How have you come this far? What has been the biggest lesson you've learned in this topic and what have you learned from it? How did you earn your first salary, but investment income? How did you buy your first home or rental apartment? Who has inspired you the most and how?
What is your story related to the theme of the guest lesson?
Tip five: practical tasks maintain energy levels
How to give a boost to the lesson? Playfully or with some practical small task. Think about what fun activities students could do? For example: "Pick up everything with something that relates to the theme of the lesson!" Or, when students are at home: "Let's make the camera background more fun together! Everyone can choose their favorite wallpaper." You can also have them googling some of the concepts related to the topic of the lesson and find out what answers they got and from there continue with the topic.
You can bring your work-related items to the face-to-face class and have them circled so that students can get to know them or try them out for themselves. If you can't take things with you, maybe you manage to take pictures of those things to share with students?
At the end of the day, even a few squats (with or without a squat) help to raise energy levels and win the attention of students. If you feel that the audience is getting out of hand, you can ask everyone to stand up for a moment and, for example, stretch or clapping yourself. Perhaps the students are just tired and need a little pampering. 🙂 A guest class doesn't have to be death-defying. If you're having fun, infect them with your energy and you won't regret it!
Tip six: let's pull the ends together creatively
To sum up the lesson, something creative can also be done. For example, anyone can say a thought that they had from class or show somehow, e.g. by thumb, writing on paper, writing chat/google docs, or other ways how useful the lesson was for them or what important they learned about the lesson. If you're short of time, you can ask the teacher to send you an email that briefly lists what students experienced or learned about the new lesson. If you are willing to answer students' questions even after class, leave them your email 🙂
Inspiring meetings with young people!
The author of the article: Helena Tomikas, Tagasi Kooli Communications Manager